Diagnosis/Testing

FAS can be diagnosed according to the following signs: a heart murmer or other heart problems, delayed mental development and structural problems of the face and skeleton. Fetal alcohol sydrome can be identified in utero by a series of tests. A toxoligy test is a common way for doctors or other health care providers to know if a pregnant woman is drinking during her pregnancy; the baby can not be tested, but it can be assumed that the baby will have FAS if the mother consumes alcohol. Another test to discover fetal alcohol sydrome in utero is brain imaging studies. Abnormal brain development can be seen through the aid of cat scans and MRI's. The final test for FAS is an ultrasound. Through this test slowed growth of the fetus can be visually determined.